Japanese manufacturing

[legalspeed]

I wonder if bike manufacturing will be affected.

Our Panasonic phones are back ordered now....

[rbrais]

I know Sony is shut down.

[rbrais]

Even if they were not hit hard, they are still most likely without power.

[markbvt]

Honda and Suzuki have already announced they're shutting down production. No word from Yamaha and Kawasaki, though their production is likely to be affected as well due to the rolling blackouts Japan is experiencing because of their massively reduced electric generation capabilities.

Full article here:
http://www.motorcycledaily.com/2011/...es-operations/

By the way, this is likely to affect nearly all other motorcycle manufacturers around the world too due to the number of Japanese-produced components they all use.

--mark

[Point37]

i just ordered a couple panasonic cordless phones from amazon on saturday with the free super saver shipping (5-8 days) and the delivery estimate says from april 7 - april 23...i would say that's back ordered although it doesn't say it on amazon

I wonder if bike manufacturing will be affected.

Our Panasonic phones are back ordered now....

[R7]

According to updates from Yamaha on facebook, their plant has not been affected

[oVTo]

Honda has a huge motorcycle plant in Kumomoto (one of my favorite places in the world), on Kyushu Islandin southwest Japan . It has a capacity of 500,000 motorcycles per year. I'd guess the power/water, etc. would all be separate from the the other islands, so maybe that's one of the plants they're keeping running.

A couple of pics of Kyushu -

Kumomoto Castle



The volcanic basin below Mt. Aso, the highest point on Kyushu.

[Garandman]

Honda has a huge motorcycle plant in Kumomoto (one of my favorite places in the world), on Kyushu Islandin southwest Japan . It has a capacity of 500,000 motorcycles per year. I'd guess the power/water, etc. would all be separate from the the other islands, so maybe that's one of the plants they're keeping running.//

That's probably not the issue.

Japanese lean manufacturing techniques are based in part on just-in-time inventory. While efficient, these techniques require close interaction throughout a multi-tiered supply chain.

Not sure about the motorcycles but Japanese car manufacturers outsource a great deal more than American auto manufacturers do.

The auto manufacturers have shut down while they survey their supply chain to see who is "up." I suspect the motorcycle manufacturers are no different. They will all no doubt adapt, improvise and overcome in the coming days.

[RandyO]

Not sure about the motorcycles but Japanese car manufacturers outsource a great deal more than American auto manufacturers do.

bike manufacturers do as well, at least they have in the past. labor in Korea, China and India is cheaper than Japan, I know that Suzuki had Hyosung building engines at one time.

[DuncanMoto]

Shipping from all over the world, but obviously Japan, has slowed down. For several different reasons, I am sure.
One major motorcycle accessory manufacturer just had cargo on a ship that turned back to Japan. They did not tell us why.
With that said. On that ship was their last containers for the 2011 season going to the US.
Almost all their 2011 product for the US market has already been delivered to the US.

[virtualbong]

I wonder if this will have any effect on the price of used motorcycles.

[Stromper]

Soon Japanese motorcycles won't need running lights

I am really sorry for them, the bad is JUST starting

All the government wonks will show their incompetents

Meanwhile in Cali weed smoking hippies are panicking over the possibility of 4 xrays worth of rads while rolling a fatty to compose themselves.

[lrrs182]

This is an awesome time to invest in mid size and large Japanese companies. Their stock is down and may get lower and they WILL perservere. There will be no shortage of people willing to invest, including myself

[butcher bergs]

incompetence

[Stromper]

When the nuke plant is decided if OK I am buying Japan building supply stocks

[KawiSmurf]

Found this today:
Moto for Japan
Group of moto enthusiasts putting up Red Cross donations for Japan

[gregp]

I have a lot of Family there. It is sad to hear my 80 year old (Japanese) Mother proclaim that "this is the end for Japan", like she did two nights ago. I did my best to convince her that she was mistaken, but the talking heads on the News are not making that easy for me...
I remain confident that things will get worse, before they get better, but they will get better, and Japan will emerge from this crisis as strong, or stronger, than they ever were.

[Pigman]

and this...........is not good


http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/...?article=43717

[Garandman]

An article from Reuters highlights the impact of lean manufacturing on deliveries.

Numerous manufacturers and suppliers have already warned of possible supply disruptions that are seen potentially affecting everything from consumer products such as Apple Inc's iPad to Boeing's long-awaited Dreamliner.

The most immediate threat to manufacturers stems from the fact that the weakest link in the global supply chain is what Japan is best known for: high-end, highly technical parts like semiconductors, which also weigh very little.

"The earliest impact will be felt with high-cost, low-weight products," said John Hoffecker, managing director of restructuring advisory firm AlixPartners LP. "They come out of Japan by plane so manufacturers don't have much of a buffer for those products."

[Stromper]

Well everyone in the MODERN manufacturing world knew I was a dinosaur when I used to say in meetings

Just in Time.... isn't

Of course in this force majeure situation even a reasonable level of inventory would be inadequate

[rbrais]

Soon Japanese motorcycles won't need running lights.

Running Lights? They won't need head lights, sparkplugs, or batteries either! Not to mention the year-round riding you can get in from the warmth radiating off the bike!